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March 28, 2024

Led by Troy Brown Jr., Centennial basketball plans to play at fast pace

2015-2016 HS Basketball

Christopher DeVargas

From left, Centennial basketball players; Roy Sparks, Jake Hutchings, Darian Scott and Isaiah Banks. Front: Troy Brown Jr., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015.

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The Centennial High basketball team plans to run this season, and the Bulldogs have a roster built for it.

After the team fell to Palo Verde in the Sunset Regional semifinals last season, coach Todd Allen plans to run as much full court press as possible, and push the ball up the court following rebounds.

It’s a style of play that no high school basketball player would turn down.

“I think we are going to be long,” Allen said. “If the kids can understand that on the defensive end and play long and get out on the break… I think we have a chance to go pretty far.”

The Bulldogs will again be led by five-star combo guard Troy Brown Jr., who enters his junior year with offers from the who’s-who of college basketball including Duke, Kansas, Louisville and Arizona.

At 6-foot-6, Brown has extraordinary length at his position, yet has the ball control to move the ball in transition after grabbing rebounds. Ranked as the No. 2 point guard in the country by ESPN, Brown has the talent to singlehandedly win any game for the Bulldogs this year.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, their roster is deep enough that he may never have to.

“The No. 1 thing is we have to stay healthy,” Allen said. “We have built a program and everyone has to buy into their role. We have a lot of talented kids and on any given night somebody can stand out and we have to be ok with that.”

One player who certainly knows his role is senior guard Roy Sparks, who Allen says is one of the best sharpshooters in the state.

“We know what Roy can do,” Allen said, “he can light it up from three.”

Darian Scott, a 6-foot-8 post player, has a scholarship offers from Fresno State and gives Centennial talent on the inside. Newcomer Jake Hutchings has the ability to score from the inside and out.

“I can play the wing or I can get in the post and really provide a lot of offense,” Hutchings said. “I have good size on the defensive end and for rebounding.”

Junior Isaiah Banks is a slashing wing player who can get to the rim at will. He is the third-ranked player in Nevada in the class of 2017 by ESPN, and he passes the ball nearly as well as he drives to the rim.

With a star like Brown leading a talented roster that extends onto the bench, Centennial could compete for a state title.

“We fell short last year in the regionals, and the kids are anxious to get going,” Allen said. “I think they are hungry.”

After the playoff loss to Palo Verde, the players won’t be taking any games lightly this year.

“It’s like we have something to play for,” Sparks said. “Last year we came out a little too cocky, and this year it feels like we have something to prove.”

Jesse Granger can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Jesse on Twitter at twitter.com/JesseGranger_.

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